Ventilating attachment for water closet

ABSTRACT

In order to provide very efficient and effective ventilation of a water closet, a collector having an exhaust coupled to suction means is disposed directly beneath the seat at the rear thereof. The collector is held in place by and between the hinge bolts of the seat, and has a downwardly directed inlet opening which extends over the center rear portion of the bowl. A passageway, which is taller than its narrowest portion, extends laterally between the seat and the water reservoir of the water closet to effect a conduit between the inlet and exhaust openings. The exhaust opening is coupled, by means of a flexible hose, to the suction means comprising a motor driven centrifugal air pump. The air pump may discharge to a conduit leading outdoors or to another convenient discharge space, or the air from the bowl may be pulled by the suction pump through filtering means, such as activated charcoal, after which it is discharged into the local environment. With the latter configuration, a self-contained pump/filter unit is provided, and the activated charcoal is disposed within a chamber having a baffle which prevents &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;tunneling&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of the flowing air through the charcoal after a period of use. The collector is provided with upwardly directed lips about both the inlet and exhaust openings to achieve a double trap against any water which might inadvertently enter the collector, thereby preventing any water from entering the flexible tubing to prevent electrical malfunctions of the motor driving the air pump.

United States Patent [1 Hunnicutt, Jr.-

[451 July 23, 1974 VENTILATING ATTACHMENT FOR WATER CLOSET 76 Inventor:Clyde J. Hunnicutt, Jr., 3026 E.

Garfield St., Phoenix, Ariz. 85008 22 Filed: Nov. 8, 1972 21 Appl. No;301,581

52 Us. Cl. 4/213, 4/72 [51] Int. Cl A47k 3/22, E03d 9/04, E03d 13/00[58] Field of Search 4/209, 217, 213, 72

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,017,590 10/1935 Duffner4/213 2,728,088 12/1955 Gudish 4/217 2,747,201 5/1956 Hern'ott 4/2132,988,756 6/1961 Hartley 4/213 3,230,551 1/1966 Kopp 4/213 3,335,4318/1967 Coates 4/213 3,366,979 2/1968 Johnston 4/213 3,386,109 6/1968Christian et al. 4/213 3,491,382 1/1970 Primary Examiner-Henry K. ArtisAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Cahill, Sutton & Thomas 57 ABSTRACT In order toprovide very efficient and effective ventila- Poister .Q 4/217 tion of awater closet, a collector having an exhaust coupled to suction means isdisposed directly beneath the seat at the rear thereof. The collector isheld in place by and between the hinge bolts of the seat, and has adownwardly directed inlet opening which extends over the center rearportion of the bowl. A passageway, which is taller than its narrowestportion, extends laterally between the seat and the water reservoir ofthe water closet to effect a conduit between the inlet and exhaustopenings. The exhaust opening is coupled, by means of a flexible hose,to the suction means comprising a motor driven centrifugal air pump. Theair pump may discharge to a conduit leading outdoors or to anotherconvenient discharge space, or the air from the bowl may be pulled bythe suction pump through filtering means, such as activated charcoal,after which his discharged into the local environment. With the latterconfiguration, a self-contained pump/filter unit is provided, and theactivated charcoal is disposed within a chamber having a baffle whichprevents tunnelingof the flowing air through the charcoal after a periodof use. The collector is provided with upwardly directed lips about boththe inlet and exhaust openings to achieve a double trap against anywater which might inadvertently enter the collector, thereby preventingany water from entering the flexible tubing to prevent electricalmalfunctions of the motor driving the air pump.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED JULZ 3 I974 SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENTEDJUL 2 31974 SHEEI 2 0f 3 VENTILATING ATTACHMENT FOR WATER CLOSET Thisinvention relates to ventilated water closetsand, more particularly, .toan attachment system for forcibly ventilating water closets. I

Various attachment and integral systems have been proposed in thepastfor ventilating water closets. The prior art in this field ischaracterized by impractical'and incompletely thought-out systems whichrequire considerable alteration of an existing water closet and whichare still ineffective because the aerodynamics of the system werecasually treated.

Thus, it is a broad object of my invention to provide an improvedventilating system for water closets.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a system which mayreadilybe incorporated into an existing water closet.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a collector forsuch a system which is scientifically placed and configured for maximumefficiency and sanitation.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a system which isvery durable and yet is relatively simple and economical to manufacture.

In yet another aspect, it is an object of my invention to provide such asystem in which variant embodiments may either exhaust to anotherenvironment or within the same environment after treatment.

The subject matter of the invention is particularly pointed out anddistinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Theinvention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, maybest be understood with reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings of which;

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustrating the broad means by which theapparatus constituting the present invention 'may be integratedwith aconventional water closet;

FIG. 2 is a detail of a collector unit element of the system shown inFIG. 1, FIG. 2 being drawn as if the material used in the upper portionof the collector unit were clear to better illustrate the internalconstruction thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway and partially cross-,

eral shape of the chamber containing the impellers and the exhaust area.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional water closet 1 including a baseportion 2, reservoir portion 3, and

seat means 4 secured to the base portion 2 by hinge means 5. The hingemeans 5 includes downwardly directed bolts (not shown) for securing theseat means 4 to the base portion 2 in the usual manner. However, as willbe more fully explained below, a collector unit 6 is interposedgenerally between the hinge means 5 and is held in position by theaforementioned bolts.

The collector unit 6 is provided with a laterally offset portion 7having an exhaust aperture on the underneath side thereof, which exhaustaperture couples to a flexible hose8 which leads to the inlet of airrecirculating and treating apparatus 9 or, alternatively, to poweroperated exhaust means 10. The poweroperated exhaust means 10 includes awall plate 11 for receiving the remote end of the flexible hose 8, amotor driven suction fan 12, and a conduit 13 coupling the exhaustoutletof the suction 'fan 12 to an exhaust area such as the outsideenvironment or an attic.

portions- 15 and 16 on either side thereof. The wing portions 15 and 16are provided, respectively, with apertures 17 and 18 which are spacedapartfrom one another a standard distance for receiving the downwardlydirected hinge bolts (not shown) such that the collector unit 6 can besecured in place in the obvious manner. The underside of the centralportion 14 is provided with an inlet opening which, it will be observed,is directly centrally disposed between the hinges 5 (FIG. 1). The inletarea beneath the central portion 14 provides direct air communicationbetween the bowl portion of a water closet to which the collector unit 6is affixed and an elongated aperture 19 which discharges into laterallyextending chamber 20. The elongated aperture 19 includes an upwardlyextending lip portion 21 about the entire periphery thereof for reasonswhich will be set forth below. The laterally extending chamber 20provides a relativelytall and narrow conduit to an outlet 22 to whichthe flexible hose 8 is attached. The outlet 22 is also provided with alip portion 23 about the complete periphery thereof.

With simultaneous reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, it will be observedthat air can pass from a water closet bowl through the inlet 24 of thecollector unit 6, through the elongated aperture 19, through thelaterally extending chamber 20, and out the collector unit outlet 22.The lips 21 and 23 encompassing respectively the apertures 19 and theoutlet 22, serve to trap any water which might escape into the collectorunit 6 from a water closet bowl (as in the case of inadvertent wateroverflow) in the chamber 20, thereby preventing such water from enteringthe flexible hose 8, which water could conceivably reach electricallydriven suction means.

For installations made in conjunction with fabrication or extensiveremodeling of the environment, the

through the exhaust means 10 for discharge to a remote I point. However,for installation with water closets in which no other alteration of theenvironment is contemplated and for portable use, the utilization of theair recirculating and treating apparatus 9 (FIG. 1) is provided. In bothvariants, the specific configuration of the collector unit 6 permitsincorporation of the system into an existing water closed by virtue ofthe standardized spacing between the apertures 17 and 18 (FIG. 2)

and the relatively narrow laterally extending chamber 20, theconfiguration of which achieves adequate volumetric capacity withoutphysicalinterference with the reservoir 3 of the water closet I. Theinternal construction of the air recirculating and treating apparatus9is best understood from a consideration of FIGS. 5, 6,and 7.Referring'specifically to FIG. 5, it will be observed that therecirculating and treating apparatus 9 includes an upper portion whichfits over a lower portion 26. The upper portion 25 has an inlet aperture27 centrally disposed at the top thereof and leading to an inner chamber28. The bottom 29 ofthe inner chamber'28 is provided with a plurality ofapertures 30 discharging into a space 31 intermediate the upper andlower portions 25 and 26 of the recirculating and treating apparatus 9.The chamber 28 is partially filled with activated charcoal 32 which isprevented from falling through the apertures 30 by screen means 33.

A deflector 34 extends upwardly from the bottom 29 of the inner chamber28 directly below the inlet'aperture 27. The function of the deflector34 is quite important in that it prevents tunneling through theactivated charcoal 32 as a result of air flow into the inner chamber 28.Such tunneling is very undesirable because, if permitted, it establishesan air flow path which shunts the activated charcoal whereby the airpassing through the apparatus 9 would be partially treated or nottreated at all.

Referring nowto FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, an impeller 35 centrally disposed ina chamber positioned in the upper section of the lower portion 26 of theapparatus 9 is driven by an electrical motor 36 which may be energizedthrough conductor 39- from conventional wall plug 37 in accordance withthe position of switch 38. A base member 41 provides support for theentire recirculating and treating apparatus 9 such that it may befreestanding in any convenient position proximate the water closet towhich it is coupled.

Upon energization of the motor 36, clockwise rotation (FIG. 7) of theimpeller 35 commences with an exhaust chamber 42 receiving air pulledthrough the upper portion 25, including the activated charcoal 32. Thepumped air passes through an outlet 43 which is in direct communicationwith a lower chamber 44 in the lower portion 26 of the apparatus 9. Thetreated air is then discharged through a series of circumferentiallydistributed slots.45 back into the immediate environment.

With specific reference to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the exhaustchamber 42 extends only a relatively short angular distance about thecircumference of the impeller 35. Quieter and more efficient operationresult from keeping this angular distance on the order of 90 or less.Additionally, quiet operation and volumetric effi-v ciency are furtherenhanced by the provision of a baffle 46 havinga centrally disposedaperture 47 placed over the impeller 35 such that the air flowingthrough the activated charcoal 32 and the apertures 30 is pulledinwardly to pass through the aperture 47 into the impeller chamber 40.

Attention is redirected to the collector unit 6 which was depicted inFIG. 2 as if the upper portion were made of clear material. In practice,a plastic material is utilized which may be matched in color to thespecific water closet to which it is affixed. It may further be notedthat the forward end 48 of the central portion 14 has a waterfall shapefor sanitary purposes. It will further be noted that the inlet '24 (FIG.3) is symmetricallydisposed about the fore and aft centerline of thewater closet because of the position of the apertures 17 and 18 (FIG. 2)which are utilized to secure the collector unit 6 in position.v Thisspecific position hasbeen foundcritical in achieving flowcharacteristicswhereby essentially all air from the bowl is drawn into the flexiblehose 8 for exhaust or treatment. Therefore,it will be understood thatthe placement of the inletto the collector unit 6 at the rear centralarea of the bowl results in greatly enhanced volumetric efficiency suchthat relatively low speed and uiet motorscan be utilized in the suctionmeans an the necessity; for very high flow rate across the bowl isobviated.

While'the principles of the invention have now been made clear in anillustrative embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to thoseskilled in the art many modifications of, structure, arrangement,proportions, the elements, materials, and components, used in thepractice of the invention which are particularly adapted for specificenvironments and operating requlireirnents without departingfrom thoseprinciples.

c arm: 1

1. A system for ventilating a water closet bowl comprising:

a. a collector unit having an inlet opening symmetrically disposed aboutthe bowl fore and aft centerline and positioned at the rear thereof,said collector unit also havin an outlet aperture in directcommunication witfi said inlet opening, said inlet opening and saidoutlet aperture of said collector unit being in direct communicationby alaterally extending chamber, a first passage coupling said inlet openingto said laterally extending chamber and-terminatin therein inan'upwardly lipped aperture, said out et aperture being defined by anupwardly extending circumferential lip;

b. an air pump means having an intake and an exhaust;

c. conduit means coupling said outlet aperture of said collector unit tosaid air pump intake;

(1. an air recirculating and treatment housing having an inlet coupledto said conduit means, said housing including an inner chamber and aquantity of activated charcoal at least partially filling said innerchamber, said housing further including said air pump means for drawingair from said collector unit, through said inner chamber and dischargingthe air through said air pump exhaust into the water closet environment;and

e. air deflector means disposed in said inner chamber directly in thepath of the gaseous mixture to prevent tunneling through the activatedcharcoal.

2. The system of claim 1 in which said air pump means comprises animpeller,-an electrical motor driving said impeller, an air exhaustchamber radially outboard of said impeller for receiving air moved bysaid impeller, an exhaust outlet coupling said exhaust chamber to alower chamber, and at least one discharge aperture in said lower chambercommunicating with the water closet environment.

3. The system of claim 2 including a plurality of discharge aperturescircumferentially distributed about said housing.

4. The system of claim 3 in which said collector unit further includesfirst and second wing ortions extending laterally on opposite sides ofsaid in ct opening, first and second fixing apertures through,respectively, said first and second wing portions, said first and secondfixing apertures spaced from one another to align with conventiallyspaced seat securing bolts whereby said collector may be secured inplace by passing the bolts through said fixing apertures.

1. A system for ventilating a water closet bowl comprising: a. acollector unit having an inlet opening symmetrically disposed about thebowl fore and aft centerline and positioned at the rear thereof, saidcollector unit also having an outlet aperture in direct communicationwith said inlet opening, said inlet opening and said outlet aperture ofsaid collector unit being in direct communication by a laterallyextending chamber, a first passage coupling said inlet opening to saidlaterally extending chamber and terminating therein in an upwardlylipped aperture, said outlet aperture being defined by an upwardlyextending circumferential lip; b. an air pump means having an intake andan exhaust; c. conduit means coupling said outlet aperture of saidcollector unit to said air pump intake; d. an air recirculating andtreatment housing having an inlet coupled to said conduit means, saidhousing including an inner chamber and a quantity of activated charcoalat least partially filling said inner chamber, said housing furtherincluding said air pump means for drawing air from said collector unit,through said inner chamber and discharging the air through said air pumpexhaust into the water closet environment; and e. air deflector meansdisposed in said inner chamber directly in the path of the gaseousmixture to prevent tunneling through the activated charcoal.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 in which said air pump means comprises an impeller, anelectrical motor driving said impeller, an air exhaust chamber radiallyoutboard of said impeller for receiving air moved by said impeller, anexhaust outlet coupling said exhaust chamber to a lower chamber, and atleast one discharge aperture in said lower chamber communicating withthe water closet environment.
 3. The system of claim 2 including aplurality of discharge apertures circumferentially distributed aboutsaid housing.
 4. The system of claim 3 in which said collector unitfurther includes first and second wing portions extending laterally onopposite sides of said inlet opening, first and second fixing aperturesthrough, respectively, said first and second wing portions, said firstand second fixing apertures spaced from one another to align withconventially spaced seat securing bolts whereby said collector may besecured in place by passing the bolts through said fixing apertures.